The photo depicted a wrestling dummy hanging from a rope wearing a Paulsboro tee-shirt over a Kittatinny singlet. Seven Phillipsburg wrestlers surrounded the dummy, some wearing pointed hoods, which drew opinions that the photo was racially motivated.

The wrestlers were suspended and not allowed to participate in the district tournament. Through their attorney, the wrestlers said the photo was a mock hanging and there was no racist intent.

While the photo and story drew significant attention in Paulsboro, Kittatinny athletic director Chris Carroll agreed the outrage was less at his school, more than likely because the Paulsboro tee-shirt was more prominently displayed than the Kittatinny singlet.

He also said that Kittatinny and Phillipsburg will probably continue to wrestle, though he will confirm with his superintendent this summer before scheduling the match.

“We haven’t determined our plans, but right now our intention is to continue to (wrestle Phillipsburg),” said Carroll. “There’s no immediate plans to restrict having us wrestle them. We’ve competed against them in other sports since (the photo came out).

“We have a very strong relationship with P’burg, and we aspire to get to their level in wrestling. That’s a match you put on your calendar. You aim for that. They’re a great program, as is Paulsboro and it’s a shame to have a (handful) of kids (mess) that up for everybody.”

Carroll said most people probably weren’t aware a Kittatinny singlet was used in the photo since the tee-shirt covered all but the legs.

“You really had to look to see what it was and would have had to know our uniforms,” admitted Carroll. “I think our wrestling community probably knew what it was. The kids’ parents knew, but it wasn’t as big of a negative as it was in Paulsboro because it was more subdued than a name on a sweatshirt.”

Carroll was upset by the photo and reached out to Phillipsburg because he wanted the singlet — which had been stolen from the locker room on the night of their match with Phillipsburg — back. He said Phillipsburg officials were accommodating and returned the singlet.

“It was kids doing stupid things,” said Carroll. “I was not happy with the fact the singlet was stolen or placed on a mannequin, especially if there was any sort of racial discrimination involved.”

Carroll though, said he wasn’t sure there was racist intent, though understood how it could be viewed that way. He said Kittatinny’s mannequins are also dark-colored — theirs are blue.

“It was ridiculous and stupid and not condonable,” Carroll said of photo. “I wasn’t quick to jump to that conclusion.

The way the hoods were pointed up, I could see how it could be construed that way, but my initial reaction wasn’t that it was racist.”

He said was satisfied with Phillipsburg’s response to the theft and photograph.